Meanwhile, Wada and his group were initiating a new round of training and rest, with the Satsuki Sho as their target for Mejiro. However, for Ikezoe, Curren Chan's Debut Race was still far off, and he still had ample time to make thorough preparations for her Debut Race.
"Oni-chan, Karen-chan, can I really not run middle distances? Not even a mile race?"
"Karen-chan, you saw the training during that period. Compared to stamina, you simply can't compare to Uma Musume who run middle and long distances. Instead of starting from scratch to train stamina, which won't yield results overnight, it's better to focus on training for short-distance races."
On the track, Curren Chan, wearing a gymnastics uniform unique to Fillies, different from most other Uma Musume, with her two fair, long legs exposed, asked with a smile. However, she was met with a rejection from Ikezoe.
To be honest, Ikezoe only recently learned that, depending on the Uma Musume, the training uniforms for Fillies and colts were different—although Ikezoe was curious why there was still this level of distinction in a world where everyone was an Uma Musume, he wouldn't ask further since it was common knowledge.
But the most important thing was that Curren Chan, as a Filly, unlike other colt Uma Musume whose training uniforms were long pants, hers were super short shorts—they could barely be called pants anymore.
And due to the imbalance in the ratio of colts to Fillies at Tracen Academy, Uma Musume dressed like this were extremely rare—Ikezoe wanted to remain calm, but things ultimately did not go as he wished.
"Um, Karen-chan, why don't you go change into some long pants?"
"Hehe, no need to worry, Oni-chan. Karen-chan is an Uma Musume, you know, she's not afraid of the cold at all~" Curren Chan initially smiled, misunderstanding him. It was late March, and the weather in Japan was still unpredictable, making it easy for people to catch a cold.
However, Curren Chan quickly realized what Ikezoe meant. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't back down. She said mysteriously and teasingly:
"Could it be... Oni-chan is captivated by Karen-chan's cuteness? Hehe, Oni-chan is so perverted~"
"But if it's Oni-chan, it's okay, you know? But you'll have to wait until Karen-chan finishes her studies at Tracen before we can consider anything else, otherwise, Oni-chan will be flamed by Karen-chan's fans~"
...Alright, there was also this intensity of an unmasked offensive. It truly left Ikezoe dumbfounded. However, Ikezoe didn't take Curren Chan's teasing seriously; to him, her provocation was merely a jest.
He and Curren Chan were as close as mother and son! How could he have any wicked thoughts?
"Tch, what a guy with a head full of dirty thoughts."
However, at this moment, a cold snort suddenly sounded behind Ikezoe. Upon catching the sound, Ikezoe almost instinctively dodged to the side. Finally, after turning around, he came face to face with the figure of Gold Ship, who had appeared at some unknown time.
"...Why are you so afraid of me? I won't kick you." Gold Ship also felt that Ikezoe's reaction was a bit too exaggerated. With her hands in her pockets, she said, "Last time was an accident, it was your fault for appearing behind me."
"I'm also a little afraid of you appearing behind me..." Ikezoe patted his chest, still feeling a lingering fear. He looked at Gold Ship, who hadn't appeared since their heart-to-heart talk that day, and asked with a renewed smile, "Giant, do you need something from me?"
"Can't I look for you if I don't need anything? Also, I don't think we're close enough to call each other by name, are we?"
Gold Ship said to Ikezoe with some emotion. However, Curren Chan, listening to Gold Ship's tone, couldn't help but ask with a hint of curiosity:
"Um... Gold Ship, why do you feel... a little different from usual?"
Gold Ship's courage was considered small among Uma Musume. While not as timid as Meisho Doto, she was quite cautious. Furthermore, Gold Ship was prone to overreacting, which made her rarely interact with anyone outside of her close acquaintances.
Many people at Tracen Academy mistakenly believed Gold Ship had strong aggressive tendencies, and thus were reluctant to interact with her, even calling her "Tyrant" in private. But in reality, Gold Ship spoke very meekly.
But now... at least in Curren Chan's eyes, Gold Ship's tone had absolutely no connection to the word "meek."
"Huh? Different? Is, is it?"
However, Gold Ship belatedly realized that her tone did seem a bit different from usual. Her usual speaking tone would definitely not be as... overbearing? Gold Ship couldn't find any other adjective.
During this time, Gold Ship had not met Ikezoe. On one hand, she wanted to see what Curren Chan, Ikezoe's in charge Uma Musume, was capable of. She already knew that Curren Chan was a short-distance Uma Musume with decent short-distance results, but there wasn't much to compare in other aspects.
On the other hand... Gold Ship had been psychologically complex during this period. She was tormented by strange dreams, unable to wake up for many days and nights, and her mental state was not good, severely needing rest.
It was only during this time that she barely managed to get a little relief from those chaotic dreams... but now it seemed she still hadn't completely relaxed.
"I probably haven't been sleeping well lately, I'm really a bit tired." Gold Ship rubbed her eyes to clear her head, then looked up again and said:
"Ikezoe, I'm participating in my Debut Race next week. Will you... come?"
"—Let me be clear, I'm not inviting you! I heard what the President said; she said she's coming to watch my race in person! And she told me to invite you along!" Gold Ship quickly realized her tone was a bit off and added:
"That President keeps wanting me to be your in charge Uma Musume, it's such a hassle! But I can't refuse, so you have to help me!"
"...How can I help you with this? I can't stop the President and them from watching the race, can I?" Ikezoe also found it inexplicably amusing. He waved his hand and said:
"If you ask me, with the President coming to watch your Debut Race, you should be performing well, right? Why come to me?"
"Of course, it's for you to reject them!"
However, Gold Ship's unhesitating words made Ikezoe slightly stunned... Did Gold Ship dislike him that much?
Could it be that Gold Ship genuinely disliked him that day? It wasn't an act? At this moment, Ikezoe, who considered himself the person who understood Gold Ship best, for the first time felt unconfident in his judgment.
"Anyway, you don't like me either, do you? Those were just words to comfort me at the time." However, Gold Ship's understanding was clearly different from Ikezoe's. She stood with her arms crossed, looking indifferent, but as she recalled the scenes from that day, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and turned her head, saying:
"I'm just an ordinary Uma Musume... 'strongest Uma Musume' or anything like that... you're flattering me too much."
"Debut Race, I will win the Debut Race, but I really think we're still not suitable. I'm an Uma Musume who gets angry and wants to kick people just by looking at you. How could the two of us ever get along?"
Gold Ship had thought a lot, a great deal, about Ikezoe's encouragement to her that day. Ikezoe's words, "I think you're the strongest!"... Gold Ship didn't want to lie, she wanted to say that she was genuinely happy for a long time.
But when she thought back carefully, she realized she was indeed comforted at the time. That feeling of unconfidence returned to her mind, forcing her to come to Ikezoe now to discuss her situation.
Indeed... she still wasn't good enough, was she? The strongest Uma Musume, what kind of talk is that... she spoke too confidently, hasn't she already been targeted by that "Emperor"?!
Gold Ship was quite clear about her own capabilities. She even doubted if she could outrun Gold Ship, who was from her own family—Gold Ship was her younger sister, yet she was taller and bigger than her! What was going on?!
And now, Gold Ship's lack of confidence made Ikezoe inexplicably find it amusing. Seeing his strongest partner being so unconfident in herself now, Ikezoe felt that the Gold Ship in his perception seemed a little different.
"Gold Ship, you..."
"Oh my If Gold Ship (student) thinks she can't do it, then Karen-chan won't mind taking Oni-chan for herself"
Curren Chan suddenly smiled and hugged Ikezoe's arm, saying with a cheerful yet cunning smile to Gold Ship in front of her:
"Anyway, Gold Ship (student) doesn't have confidence, and Karen-chan doesn't want to share her Oni-chan either. Since Gold Ship (student) is so generous, Karen-chan is very happy~"
"..."
However, in an instant, just as Ikezoe felt something was amiss, he immediately noticed Gold Ship, wearing a mask, suddenly becoming aggressive in her gaze—as a victim of Gold Ship, Ikezoe's vigilance immediately went into overdrive, not daring to relax in the slightest.
Gold Ship's subtly immature Presence also began to spread. However, while Curren Chan smiled, a hint of coldness flickered in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
The subtle confrontation between the two girls made all the surrounding Uma Musume feel immense pressure, and they scattered like birds, trying to avoid it.
Curren Chan's tracksuit.jpg
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